NATICK, Mass. – Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Haydt, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, recently visited the DEVCOM Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC. Douglas Tamilio, director of DEVCOM SC, hosted the visit, showcasing the organization’s latest advancements in science and technology serving the warfighter.
DEVCOM SC is one of eight S&T organizations within DEVCOM, part of the Army Futures Command, or AFC.
“It’s an honor to welcome Command Sgt. Maj. Haydt to the Soldier Center,” said Tamilio. “It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate the many ways in which the Soldier Center supports DEVCOM and AFC. Everything we do is guided by the needs of the Army at the small unit and Soldier level, ‘People First. Winning Matters.’ Our innovative scientists and engineers work tirelessly to ensure our warfighters are protected, optimized and lethal — ready to defeat any enemy in any combat environment, including air, land, maritime, space and cyberspace.”
During the visit, DEVCOM SC subject matter experts briefed Haydt about combat feeding advancements, the Measuring & Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E) program, the Soldier Support and Integration Team’s Soldier input/feedback efforts, Aerial Delivery mission priorities, military footwear initiatives, and the Cold Temperature and Arctic Protection System, or CTAPS.
“Visiting the Soldier Center in person was a great opportunity to find out more about the many ways the center contributes to DEVCOM, AFC and to the Army at large,” said Haydt. “They’re an impressive group, working hard to ensure our warfighters have the very best capabilities to prepare them for current battlefields and future conflicts.”
DEVCOM SC’s James Murdock, project officer for CTAPS, was one of the subject matter experts briefing Haydt during his visit. DEVCOM SC designed CTAPS, which leverages state-of-the-art textiles and design features to optimize the warfighter's environmental protection, moisture management, comfort and lethality.
After viewing CTAPS, Haydt shook Murdock’s hand and said, “Great job.”
Haydt also toured DEVCOM SC’s leading-edge facilities, including the Design, Pattern and Prototype Studio; Load Carriage Shop; Textile Material Evaluation Facility; Additive Manufacturing Facility; Low Velocity Impact and Ballistics Labs; Textile Equipment Prototype Shop; Doriot Climatic Chambers; Parachute Simulator; the Airdrop Heritage Hall; and the Soldier & Squad Performance Research Institute (S2PRINT).
“It was a pleasure to welcome Command Sgt. Maj. Haydt and show him the Soldier & Squad Performance Research Institute, or S2PRINT, building,” said Cynthia Blackwell, S2PRINT project leader. “Although construction is not yet complete, we are excited by the continued progress and the new capabilities that this facility will provide researchers. Command Sgt. Maj. Haydt seemed very interested in the concept and how S2PRINT will help increase the readiness and lethality of our warfighters.”
During his visit, Haydt met with DEVCOM SC Human Research Volunteers, or HRVs, to discuss professional development. HRVs are Soldiers who play an important role in the research, development, and testing of Soldier equipment, clothing, and combat rations. HRVs also help researchers garner a better understanding of human performance.
Haydt received an overview of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, or USARIEM, a frequent collaborator with DEVCOM SC. Both USARIEM and DEVCOM SC are co-located at the Natick Soldier Systems Center.
Richard Benney, associate director of DEVCOM SC’s Soldier Sustainment Directorate, or SSD, summed up the spirit of the day.
“SSD employees very much enjoyed meeting Command Sgt. Maj. Haydt,” said Benney. “We were able to introduce him to numerous R&D (Research and Development) activities being executed in the Combat Feeding Division, the Aerial Delivery Division, and some of our shop facilities. We all look forward to more time with Command Sgt. Maj. Haydt during his next visit to DEVCOM SC.”
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About DEVCOM Soldier Center: The DEVCOM Soldier Center is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure America’s warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. DEVCOM Soldier Center supports all of the Army's Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the DEVCOM Soldier Center’s chief areas of focus. The center’s science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. DEVCOM Soldier Center is constantly working to strengthen Soldiers’ performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers are also an important part of the mission of DEVCOM Soldier Center. The mentoring of students by Army scientists and engineers benefits the students and their communities. It also increases young people's awareness of potential Army job opportunities and helps provide the Army with potential new talent, helping to fuel innovative ideas that benefit the nation's warfighters and the nation as a whole.
DEVCOM Soldier Center is part of DEVCOM. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.
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